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Main Informations

Overview

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is an independent public body. Its remit and responsibilities include:
• promoting equality of opportunity and affirmative action
• working towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination and harassment
• keeping relevant legislation under review
• promoting good relations between persons of different racial groups and good disability practice
• overseeing the effectiveness of statutory equality duties on public authorities

Brief history

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland was established in 1999, taking over responsibilities of Commissions duty with single strand issues going back to 1976. Its powers and duties derive from a number of statutes which have been enacted over the last decades, providing protection against discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, race, religion and political opinion, sex and sexual orientation. It also has responsibilities in respect of the statutory equality and good relations duties which apply to public authorities.
The Commission’s vision is of a society in Northern Ireland where there is equality for all and a common understanding of the benefits of a more equal society. The Commission’s mission is to improve people’s lives through the effective implementation of its statutory responsibilities.

Mandate type

Predominantly promotion-type and legal support body

Litigation powers

Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) Not legally binding

Activities aimed at supporting duty bearers such as employers and service providers (e.g. through trainings, guidance material, practical support, etc.)

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Communication activities (e.g. awareness raising campaigns)

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Recommendations on discrimination issues

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Publications and reports

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Research projects (including surveys)

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Our institution has a mandate to deal with:

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Other statistics

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Number of inquiries handled per year (all contact even if not resulting in a formal complaint)

29583

24295

18458

19688

18833

19510

Number of cases handled per year (case files opened and processed according to your procedures)

315

274

264

315

286

291

Number of media appearances per year (major newspapers/magazines/websites/blogs, TV + radio channels) - does not include social media

475

428

499

314

918

503

Management

Collegiate headed equality body (led by a distinct board/commission)

Management details

• The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is governed by a board of Commissioners consisting of a Chief Commissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner and up to 18 other Commissioners. Commissioners set the overall strategic direction for the organisation, set the policy framework and oversee the delivery of the planned work. With the exception of the Chief Commissioner who works four days a week, all Commissioners are part time and are appointed for a three-year term. The Chief Executive ensures that the Commission’s staff and resources are deployed to deliver the annual Business Plan.

Additional details

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is sponsored by The ‘Executive Office’ which carries responsibilities for equality policy and legislation in the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Commission’s staff are led by its Chief Executive and work in four core divisions: Advice & Compliance, Legal, Policy & Research, Communications & Promotion and Corporate Services.

Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board

Commissioner vacancies are advertised every three years and appointments are made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. All staff, including the Chief Executive are directly recruited by the Commission.

Number of staff dealing with equality issues

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

no data

119

116

108

106

95

Grounds and fields of discrimination covered by the equality body

GroundsFields

Employment

Education

Housing

Social Protection & Healthcare

Goods & Services

Other

Gender

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Gender Identity

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Race and Ethnic Origin

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Age

yes

yes

yes

no

no

Disability

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Sexual Orientation

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Religion & Belief

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Other grounds : Healthcare is covered in most pieces of legislation but we would need a definition of social protection as it may not be covered in its entirety.

Mandate covers:

Public sector

Private sector

Operating budget in euros

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

no data

7424000

7418000

7386000

6514000

7853000

We are accountable to:

The Executive Office (Regional Government Department)

Related News

Half of the women who responded to an Equality Commission investigation into the employment experiences of pregnant workers and mothers in Northern Ireland believe that their career opportunities have been negatively affected by their pregnancy or maternity leave.

That is one of the findings of ‘Expecting Equality: a Formal Investigation under the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976’.